The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India Part 46

_Lunia_.--Synonym of Murha, Nunia.

_Machhandar_.--(One who catches fish.) Synonym of Dhimar.

_Machhandra Nath_.--A subdivision of Jogi.

_Machhia_.--(From _machhi_, fish.) A section of Dhimar and Lodhi.

_Machhri_.--(Fish.) A sept of Oraon.

_Mada Kukuria_.--(Dead dog.) A subsection of the Viswal section of Koltas.

_Madankul_.--A section of Komti. They do not use red clothes, nor the wood of the swallow-wort tree.

_Madari_.--A cla.s.s of Fakirs or Muhammadan beggars.

_Made_.--A resident of the Mad country in Chanda and Bastar. Subcaste of Pardhan.

_Madgi_, _Madiga_. [463]--The Telugu caste of workers in leather corresponding to the Chamars, which numbers nearly 1 1/2 millions in Madras, Mysore and Hyderabad. In 1911 there were nearly 6000 Madgis in the Central Provinces and 3000 in Berar. According to tradition, the Madigas derive their name from that of a sage called Matanga Muni, and it is said that a dynasty belonging to the caste once ruled in the Canarese country. The following legend of their origin comes from Mysore: [464] In former times the sage Jambava Rishi was habitually late in attending at Siva's court. Siva asked him why this happened, and he replied that he was occupied in tending his children. On this Siva took pity on him and gave him the sacred cow, Kamdhenu, from which all the needs of the children could be satisfied. But one day while Jambava was absent at Siva's court, another sage, Sankhya, visited his hermitage and was hospitably entertained by his son, Yugamuni. The cream which Sankhya was given was so good that he desired to kill the cow, Kamdhenu, thinking that her flesh would taste even better. In spite of Yugamuni's objections Sankhya killed the cow and distributed the meat to various persons. While this was in progress Jambava returned, and, on hearing what had been done, dragged Sankhya and Yugamuni before Siva's judgment seat. The two offenders did not enter the court but stood outside the doorway, Sankhya on the right side and Yugamuni on the left. Siva condemned them to become Chandalas or outcastes, and the descendants of Sankhya have become the right-hand Holias, while those of Yugamuni and his wife Matangi are the left-hand caste of Madigas. The latter were set to make shoes to expiate the sin committed by their ancestor in killing a cow. Another story given in the Central Provinces is that the Golla caste of cowherds, corresponding to the Ahirs and the Madgis, are the descendants of two brothers. The brothers had a large herd of cattle and wanted to divide them. At this time, however, cattle disease was prevalent, and many of the herd were affected. The younger brother did not know of this, and seeing that most of the herd were lying on the ground, he proposed to the elder brother that he himself should take all the cattle lying on the ground, and the elder brother all those which were standing up, as a suitable method of division. The elder brother agreed, but when the younger came to take his cattle which were on the ground he found that they were all dead, and hence he had no alternative but to take off the hides and cure and sell them. His descendants continued his degraded profession and became the Madgi caste. In Chanda the following six subcastes of Madgis are reported: The Nulka Chandriah or caste priests; the Anapa or leather dealers; the Sindhi who are supposed to have been performers of dramas; the Masti or dancers; the Kommu or tellers of stories; and the Dekkala or genealogists of the caste. It is said that Kommu really means a horn and Dekka a hoof. These last two are the lowest subdivisions, and occupy a most degraded position. In theory they should not sleep on cots, pluck the leaves of trees, carry loads on any animal other than a donkey, or even cook food for themselves, but should obtain their subsistence by eating the leavings of other Madgis or members of different castes. The Nulka Chandriah or priests are the highest subdivision and will not take food or water from any of the others, while the four remaining subcastes eat and drink together, but do not intermarry. There are also a number of exogamous groups, most of which have territorial names; but a few are t.i.tular or totemistic, as--Mukkidi, noseless; k.u.mawar, a potter; Nagarwar, a citizen; Dobbulwar, one who possesses a _dobbulu_ or copper coin; Ippawar, from the mahua tree; Itkalwar from _itkal_ a brick, and so on. The caste customs of the Madigas need not be recorded in detail. They are an impure caste and eat all kinds of food, and the leavings of others, though the higher subdivisions refuse to accept these. They live outside the village, and their touch is considered to convey pollution.

_Madhavacharya_.--A Vishnuite sect and order of religious mendicants. See Bairagi.

_Madhyanjan, Madhyandina_.--A cla.s.s of Brahmans, the same as the Yajur-Vedis, or a section of them.

_Madia_.--A cla.s.s of Gonds in Bastar.

_Madpotwa_.--(One who distils liquor.) Subcaste of Teli.

_Madrasi_.--Subcaste of Dhobi.

_Magadha_.--A subcaste of Ahir or Rawat in Chhattisgarh, who ask for food from others and do not cook for themselves.

_Magar, Magra_.--A sept of Khangar, Ahir or Rawat, Gond and Chadar.

_Magida_.--Synonym of Madgi.

_Mahabrahman_.--A degraded cla.s.s of Brahmans who accept gifts for the dead.

_Mahadeva Thakur_.--(Lord Mahadeo.) A section of Mali.

_Mahajalia_.--(Deceitful.) A section of Lohar.

_Mahajan_.--A banker. t.i.tle of the Bania caste.

_Mahakul_.--Synonym for Ahir.

_Mahalodhi_.--(Great Lodhi.) Subcaste of Lodhi.

_Mahanadiya_.--(Those who came from the Mahanadi river.) A subcaste of Lodhi. A section of Ganda, Ghasia and Panka.

_Mahant_.--Chief of a _math_ or monastery. A superior cla.s.s of priest. A section of Ahir, Panka, Chamar and Koshta.

_Mahanti_.--A synonym for the Karan or writer caste of Orissa. A section of Chasa.

_Mahapatra_.--A subdivision of degraded Brahmans who take funeral gifts. An honorific t.i.tle of Thanapati and of Uriya Brahmans. A subcaste of Bhat.

_Mahar_.--A caste. A subcaste of Balahi and Gondhali. A section of Rawat in Raigarh.

_Maharaj_.--(Great king.) A t.i.tle of Brahmans.

_Mahurana_.--Synonym of Chitari.

_Maharashtra_ or _Marathe_.--One of the five orders of Panch Dravida Brahmans inhabiting the Maratha country. They are also called Dakshini Brahmans. A subcaste of k.u.mhar, Kasar and Lohar.

_Mahedia_.--A section of Basors who worship pounded rice mixed with curds.

_Mahenga_.--(An elephant.) A totemistic sept of Rautia and Kawar in Bilaspur.

_Maheshri_.--Subcaste of Baina.

_Mahili_.--Synonym for Mahli.

_Mahipia_.--(A drinker of curds.) A subsection of the Viswal section of Koltas.

_Mahisur_.--(Lord of the earth.) A synonym of Brahmans.

_Mahli-Munda._--Subcaste of Mahli.

_Mahobia_.--(From the town of Mahoba in Central India.) A subcaste of Barai, Chamar, Dangi, Ghasia, Khangar and Mahar. A section of Dangi, k.u.mhar and Kori.

_Mahoda_.--A subdivision of Brahmans in Jubbulpore.

_Mah.o.r.e, Mahure_.--A subcaste of Bania, Kori, k.u.mhar and Kalar.

_Mahratta_.--Synonym of Maratha.

_Mahto, Mahton_.--A chief or village headman. Subcaste and t.i.tle of Teli and Khairwar; t.i.tle of the leader of the Bhuiya caste. A section of Ganda and Rawat (Ahir).

_Mahur_.--(Poison.) A subcaste of Sunars in Chhindwara.

_Mahure, Mahuria_.--(From Mahur, a town in Hyderabad.) Subcaste of Barhai and Dhangar.

_Mai_.--(Mother.) A division of the Kabirpanthi sect.

_Maichhor_.--A small clan of Rajputs. Perhaps from Maichuri in Jaipur.

_Mailwar_.--(Dirty.) A group of Sunars in Raipur.

_Maina_.--Synonym of Mina.